Hi all!
When I was in Rhos-on-Sea the other week, I was mooching around in a second-hand bookshop and came across a copy of Geoff Hamilton's "The Ornamental Kitchen Garden" from about 15 years ago.
It's fascinating stuff, and it's a bit of a long shot but I was wondering if anyone had used this book or the TV series as the basis for growing veg + flowers on their lottie plot? If so, what were your experiences, and how's it going now?
Knowing my luck, nobody will remember or even heard of it! ;D
I remember watching it and being really interested in what he said and would love to get a copy of that book. I shall keep looking. He is my most favourite GW presenter and I have most of his books. He was brilliant.
Tulippa, there are some 2nd hand copies available via www.amazon.co.uk marketplace if you're still looking. Just run a search on the title in Books section.
Wow, thank you, I had thought of Amazon when I was posting but got waylaid by my offspring and have only just been allowed back on the PC. I shall have a go at buying a copy, I bought a used book from there a few weeks ago and it came so quickly, I was most impressed.
Geoff was a God so anything written by him will sure to be good :) Miss him terribly. What a lovely man :)
This serious was repeated not that long ago on sky's gardening channel. It was interesting, cramming lots into a small space, and having veggies ready in succession so as something comes out of the ground, you have something ready to go in. What I liked about it was they way it showed you how attractive veggies can look, they don't have to be grown in regimented rows, but in blocks, along with flowers and herbs.
Geoff Hammilton was the first TV gardener I really remember, Percy Thrower was a bit before my time. Loved Geoff!
Everyone who loved Geoff i.e. everyone, might like this site too:
http://www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk/ie-index.html
Thank you Jill and Tulippa for coming up with just what I want for Christmas. Â
Ordered a copy this morning, to put (unread) in a safe place. Now I just have to wait for someone to say "what do you want for Christmas?"....... usually my mind goes completely blank!
Hi all,
I haven't been on for aaaggggeeessss! Nice to be back after a busy work period...
I too watched and recorded this TV series when it was on sky a while back and have applied much of his work to my own garden. As a result I have had loads of different things that I previously didn't think I would have room for and found that I really get the best from my plot...
he always was ahead of his time, promoting organic gardening with no pesticides even then, he also prooved the great advantage of working with nature to naturally control pests and diseases...
I watch the series over and over again every month or so and it must be good as my wife hasn't even got sick of it yet!!!
Cheers,
Jeff
Cheers to everyone for their comments. I've now read the book and I'm amazed how much Geoff anticipated the change in public perception and agricultural practice, considering he was writing 15 years ago. I've taken on another plot so I've now got a area 60ft by 70ft to work with, and it's grassland which used to be farmers fields, 50 years ago.
I've decided to use the book as the basis of the design and how I grow vegetables. It'll certainly look different to the other plots! ;D
Can't wait to see the before and after piccies MH :) Good luck and many thanks for pointing us in the direction of this particular book - just what I wanted although my plot/garden 8m x 7m is rather smaller than yours ;).
Mt My plot's nothing like my neighbours either which caused me a bit of stick at the beginning but persist and they;ll get off your case when they see it works and you're producing veg. The first guy on our plots to use large raised beds at waist height was derided but he's now built another one and he's having the last laugh as they are so fantastic ;D
I won best newcomer for my plot and the judge said it was just different to everyone else's. I use builders rubble sacks for raised beds and I notice now that someone else has just got one and started filling it with compost and intend to use it for strawberries. So it's good to do your own thing :)